Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media

Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media
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Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska. @ZachHughesAK About Zachariah

Assembly tells legislators to keep LIO downtown

The Anchorage Assembly officially waded into the state’s complicate battle over the LIO, asking state lawmakers to respect the city's comprehensive development plan.

Assembly hears measures on public safety, liability, and a Steinway piano

Measures for introduction and testimony at body's regular meeting are set to deal with workers compensation claims, pay for police and fire-fighters, and money for the Center for Performing Arts.

Art of an avant-garde Arctic in downtown Anchorage

When people imagine Alaska's Arctic, the first thing that comes to mind usually isn't experimental art. But a new exhibit at the Anchorage Museum is getting visitors, urbanites, and art-lovers to connect to the Arctic in different ways. The works expand well beyond the gallery walls. Download Audio

Legislature OKs up to $12.5M for new LIO site

The Legislative Council approved spending up to $12.5 million to buy the Walls Fargo Bank building in Anchorage’s Spenard neighborhood on Monday. The building would be used for legislative offices and to provide a venue for public testimony.

State’s largest school district, 48K students to be led by an Alaskan–but which?

A months long search has yielded two candidates with very different experience across Alaska's schools. Download Audio

$488M budget easily clears Anchorage Assembly

The total price-tag on Anchorage's 2016 operating budget is about $488 million, up slightly, with uncertainties lingering from extended legislative session.

Domestic violence case raises questions over Iditarod rules

In a year with a controversial new personal conduct rule, 24-year-old musher with a conviction and open assault charge was allowed to compete.
pilings along a body water, two container cranes and a cargo ship

“It Just Didn’t Work”: Legacy of botched project haunts port’s future

As aggressive corrosion rapidly degrades the Port of Anchorage, its funding future is in the hands of Juneau lawmakers. Funding for construction and rehabilitation of port infrastructure was the only financial request of the mayor’s administration in Anchorage for this session. But the possibility of action on a major spending project, even one most see as critical and inevitable, is nearly impossible according to lawmakers on both sides.

‘Slow motion disaster’ threatens state’s key port

The Port of Anchorage is literally coming apart, threatening to upend the state's essential supply chain in what officials have called "a slow motion disaster." Every year, millions are spent just combating the rapid corrosion of the Port's basic infrastructure. But without hundreds of millions for major rehabilitation work approved by lawmakers, the nexus point for much of the state's fuel, food, and building supplies is at risk. Alaska Public Media's Zachariah Hughes has part two in our series about the port. Download Audio

Final vote count: Girdwood to pay for police, Marsett beats Schuster

A week and a half after ballots were cast, outstanding votes in Anchorage's municipal election have all been counted. Download Audio

Bill fixing alcohol and marijuana laws sails toward passage

Both Minor Consuming Alcohol laws and criminal background checks for commercial cannabis applications subject to change under bill. Download Audio

1,500 outstanding ballots could tip three Anchorage races

Results on Girdwood police, school bond, and race for school board seat are all liable to change in days ahead.

Small capital budget keeps $32.5M for LIO purchase, no mega-projects or port

Though money is set aside for controversial building purchase, the Senate's version of the capital budget is more notable for what's left out. Download Audio
Marijuana for sale at a dispensary in California. (Photo: Dank Depot via Flickr Creative Commons)

The Amsterdam of Alaska: pot businesses sit down with Spenard

As permit applications trickle down from the state, local community groups are meeting prospective cannabis businesses seeking to open shop nearby. Download Audio

Liberals get edge in Anchorage elections, massive school bond fails

Upsets over financing for school capital projects and a tax-cap calculation will leave Administration with budget challenges, though more liberal-leaning Assembly. Download Audio

Four Supreme Court nominees submitted to Gov. Walker

Four nominees to replace an outgoing state Supreme Court justice have been submitted to Governor Bill Walker for review. Walker now has about six weeks to name replacement on the bench. Download Audio

What’s on the ballot? Your guide to bonds, budget battles, and a pot tax

On top of Assembly and School Board seats, Anchorage has several controversial bonds and tax measures on the municipal ballot.

$50K for a pot permit. If you’re lucky.

Hundreds of people across Alaska are trying to figure out how to sell commercial cannabis, spending big to be able to prepare applications for licenses.

Rubio opts to keep his 5 Alaskan delegates

In other presidential news, former candidate Marco Rubio, senator from Florida, has asked to keep the five delegates awarded to him during Alaska's Presidential Preference Poll earlier this month. Download Audio